Lifting and moving apparatus



g- 1952 J. B. TIPPS 3,051,442

LIFTING AND MOVING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 24, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (/04 e 5. Too 0o" INVENTOR.

By g gwy@444 Aug. 28, 1962 J. B. TlPPS 3,051,442

LIFTING AND MOVING APPARATUS i. *H I A I I Filed Dec. 24, 1959 INVENTOR.

lei W 91 M ATTORNEKI United States Patent Ofiice 3,051,442 Patented Aug. 28, 1962 3,051,442 LIFTING AND MOVING APPARATUS Jake B. Tipps, Houston, Tex., assignor to foe Stine, Inc, a corporation of Texas Filed Dec. 24, 1959, Ser. No. 861,993 7 Claims. (Cl. 25d2) The present invention relates to a lifting and moving apparatus.

In the drilling of oil and gas wells it is not uncommon to drill a plurality of wells within a relatively small area. After the drilling of one well is completed, the drilling rig is skidded or moved along the earths surface to the new drilling location which may be as much as one-half /2) mile or more away. The mast of a drilling rig may extend well over one hundred (100) feet, and it can be appreciated that not only is a structure of this type extremely heavy, but the height of the mass increases the difficulty of effecting the move. The rig must be initially lifted off the earths surface, and then placed on mobile apparatus, which apparatus in turn moves the rig to its new location.

It can also be appreciated that numerous difficulties are employed in the operation as it is presently carried out in that great care must be exercised in stepwise lifting the derrick to be sure that it is level at all times to prevent toppling. This problem is greatly increased because the area around where a drilling location has been completed may be muddy so that it is extremely difficult not only to initially position a plurality of jacks beneath the substructure of the rig, but it is also difficult to maintain the rig level as it is lifted.

Similar problems are encountered in moving other types of equipment and structures.

The present invention relates to an apparatus wherein a lifting effort may be uniformly applied for lifting a member, and the member thereafter moved over the ear-ths surface.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a lifting means which is mounted for universal movement on a support structure so that a lifting effort may be applied to a member, and the support structure thereafter moved over the earths surface with the universal support of the lifting means acting to accommodate a relative movement between the support structure and the lifting means.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a universal joint on a support structure which universal joint includes a lifting means thereon whereby the lifting means may be actuated independently of any movement of the support structure.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a relatively simple construction for moving heavy objects such as rigs, structures, buildings, equipment and the like.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which may supply a continuous uniform lifting effort to a member as desired, and the member thereafter moved over the earths surface after it has been elevated to a desired position.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from a consideration of the following drawing and description wherein- FIG. 1 is a schematic isometric view illustrating the use of the present invention in skidding a rig;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a form of a universal joint arrangement of the present invention and a structural arrangement and relationship of the lifting means associated therewith;

FIG. 3 is a view of the support structure for the universal joint and lifting means;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the invention illustrating the support structure as being mounted on tracks and moving over uneven terrain, with the lifting means actuated and engaged with a member;

FIG. 5 illustrates the invention of FIG. 4 in plan view and shows the member which is held by the lift means as being skewed relatively to the support structure; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the left portion of the universal joint structure as illustrated in FIG. 2 and shows in greater detail a means for locking the components of the universal joint to prevent relative movement between the universal joint and support structure in a horizontal plane.

Attention is directed to FIG. 1 wherein the rig is illustrated schematically at 2. F our devices of the present invention will be employed in moving the rig, three of which are illustrated generally at 7, 8 and 9 in FIG. 1, the fourth being on the other corner of the rig which cannot be seen in FIG. 1. It will be noted that one of the devices is arranged adjacent each corner of the rig, and a pair of beams 30 of sufiicient strength are extended through the substructure 11 of the derrick whereby the opposite ends of the beams may be engaged by the devices of the present invention. For example, the units 8 and 9 are engaged with the opposite ends of one beam, while the unit 7, and the other unit which is not seen in FIG. 1 would be engaged with the opposite ends of another beam. Thereafter the two beams may be simultaneously lifted by the four devices and when the structure has been elevated to a desired position, the units and elevated rig may then be moved over the earths surface by any suitable means such as a tractor or the like (not shown).

Attention is now directed to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawing wherein the support structure of the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral 15. The frame or support structure 15 may include necessary structural members as illustrated at 16 to provide sufficient strength to the support structure 15 for the use intended. The structural members 16 may also define or form an upper substantially flat area or portion 17 on the frame 15, on which portion may be supported the universal joint designated generally by the numeral 20 in FIG. 2. The undercarriage of the support structure 15 may include suitable depending members as illustrated generally at 18 whereby wheels or tracks may be mounted on the support structure 15 so that the support structure 15 can be moved over the earths surface.

It can be appreciated that the support structure 15 may assume any general form desired but without departing from the scope of the invention. The universal joint 20 is supported on the structure 15 and accommodates relative movement between the support structure 15 and the lifting means designated generally by the numeral 21. In the form of the invention illustrated, the universal joint 20 is shown as including the bowl or socket 22 which is secured on the portion 17 of the support structure 15 by any suitable means such as bolts 23 or the like. The bowl 22 is provided with an inner surface 24 on which is supported the ball-like memiber 25, the ball-like member 25 having a conforming outer surface 26 which slidably fits on the inner surface 24 of the bowl or socket 22. In this manner the ball-like member 25 is freely movable in the bowl or socket 22 of the universal joint 20 to accommodate relative movement between the lifting means 21 and the support structure 15 as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

It will be noted that the lifting means 21 is associated with the universal joint 20 in a manner so that the lifting means may be operated independently of movement of the support structure 15 without the lifting means 21 interfering with movement of functioning of the universal joint 20, and without the universal joint 20 interfering with functioning of the lifting means 21.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawing, the lifting means 21 includes a support member 28 mounted below the ball member 25 for receiving the member as illustrated at 30 which is to be lifted. The member 30 may be a beam or other suitable member of suitable construction which can be positioned in the substructure of a rig, or positioned adjacent any other structure, building or equipment which is to be moved by the present invention. It will be noted that the support 28 functions as a cradle and positions the member 30 between the vertically extending members 32 and 33 which are connected at their lower ends 34 and 35 to the support member 23 and extend upwardly as indicated in FIG. 2 of the drawing through the ball 25. The members 32 and 33 are connected above the ball 25 by means of the crossbar 38. The rods or members 32 and 33 are slidably received through the ball member 24 by means of the openings 39 and 40" which extend through the bail member and through which the members 32 and 33 extend respectively.

In order to exert a lifting effort through the rods 32 and 33'suitable means such as the hydraulically operated means designated generally at 40 may be provided. The hydraulic means 40 includes the cylinders 41 and 42 in which are mounted the pistons 43 and 44. The pistons 43 and 44 are in turn provided with piston rods 45 and 46 which extend upwardly therefrom and are adapted to engage the bottom side of the crossbar 38 as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings. Hydraulic fluid from any suitable source (not shown) may be conducted through a flexible hose (not shown) into an opening (not shown) in the cylinders 41 and 42 whereupon the pistons 43 and 44 and their rods 45 and 46 respectively are raised or lowered to in turn raise or lower the rods 32 and 33 whereupon the support or cradle 23 is raised and lowered to lift in position the member 36 as desired.

In order to aid in holding the member 30 in the device when it has been raised to a desired position, a member as illustrated at 48 may be secured to the ball member 25 with the guide 49 secured thereto. The guide 49 may be provided with the ends and 51 which fit adjacent the rods 32 and 33 to guide them as they move up and down, and the member 49 is adapted to abut the member 30 when the support 28 has been elevated to its final position. This locks or holds the member 30 in the device and inhibits it from slipping out.

To retain the vertical members 32 and 33 in their raised position, suitable means as illustrated at 50' may be provided which is in the form of threaded collars 51 and 52 adapted to engage the enlarged threaded area 53 and 54 on each of the rods 32 and 33 respectively. Thus, when the lifting means 21 has been actuated so as to raise the rods 32 and 33 through the ball member 25 and engage the member 30 in position between the cradle 28 and the member 49 secured to the lower side of the ball 25, the collars 51' and 52 may then be threadedly engaged with each of the rods 32 and 33 to aid in locking the lifting means 21 in its activated position.

It can be appreciated that the exact structural configuration of the lifting means 21 may be varied without departing from the scope of the present invention; however, particular attention is directed to the fact that the lifting means 21 is carried by the ball member 25 of the universal joint 20 and that this enables a lifting effort to be applied without interfering with the movement or functioning of the universal joint 20.

Attention is now directed to FIG. 4 of the drawings wherein the support structure is again represented by the numeral 15. It will be noted that tracks 60 are illustrated as being provided on the undercarriage 18 of the sup-port structure 15, and in FIG. 4 the device is illustrated as moving over uneven terrain so that one side of the support structure is elevated relative to the other. It can be appreciated that in the absence of means to retain the lifting means 21 in substantially a vertical position, movement of the device over uneven terrain would be extremely dangerous and hazardous in that the structure lifted might topple. The present invention overcomes this problem in that the universal joint enables the lifting means 211 to retain its normal vertical position even though the structiue 15 moves over uneven terrain, and it can be seen in FIG. 4 that the lifting means 21 is in vertical position although the structure is slightly at an angle relative thereto.

In FIG. 5 the structure 15 is again represented as is the member 30, and it can be seen that the structure enables the lifting means 21 to also rotate in a horizontal plane relative to the structure 15 so that the structure being moved can be readily turned as necessary.

In FIGS. 2 and 6 suitable lock means are illustrated at 70 for retaining the universal joint 20 at a predetermined position and this lock means includes the arcuate segment 71 which is secured to the upper inner peripheral edge 72 of the bowl. An upstanding member 73 is mounted on the ball member with the rod 74 secured thereto which extends over the segment 71, as best seen in FIG. 6. A hole 75 is provided in the rod 74 and is adapted to be aligned with any one of the openings 76, '77 or 78 in the segment 71 so that a pin 79 may be positioned therein so as to lock the bowl 22 and the ball 25 in a predetermined position relative to each other to prevent relative rotation therebetween. In certain circumstances it may be desirable to inhibit relative horizontal movement between the lifting means 21 and the support structure 15 and in this event the lock means 70 may be utilized so as to lock the universal joint 20 against relative movement which in turn locks the lifting means 21 in a predetermined horizontal angular position relative to the support structure 15. Of course, the ball 25 may still move in a vertical plane through the place where the ball 25 and bowl 22 are locked.

While it is believed that the operation of the invention is apparent by reason of the foregoing, to further amplify and describe, it will be assumed that four units of the present invention are positioned adjacent a rig for effecting movement thereof. A beam 30 may be positioned at suitable spaced intervals through the substructure 11 of the rig, as shown in FIG. 1, and as illustrated in the drawing, two of such beams are shown. The beams are represented by the numeral 30 and are adapted to be positioned in the support or cradle 28 beneath the ball 25. Particular attention is directed to the fact that the present invention enables all lifting effort to be applied exteriorly of the structure or device to be moved, and this is particularly advantageous in that it eliminates the problem of gaining access beneath a structure, which in some circumstances is extremely diflicult.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it enables the unit to be continuously lifted and supported while lifting which eliminates the necessity of stepwise raising a structure and stepwise shoring up under the structure as the jacks are raised. This inhibits the possibility of the structure falling over during lifting operations, and additionally the present invention not only lifts the structure, but when it reaches its desired height, the beam 30 is locked in the unit by reason of engagement between the upper member 49 and cradle 28. Thereafter, the locking means 21 may be secured in a manner as previously described to retain it in its elevated position, and suitable means such as a tractor or the like can be employed to pull the rig 2 or any other structure being moved as desired.

The present invention is also advantageous in that the same unit which effects the lifting of a structure also performs the function of supporting the structure while being lifted and during moving operations, and this is advantageous in that it eliminates the necessity of first lifting the structure, and thereafter endeavoring to position a moving apparatus thereunder.

The invention has been described in detail in its application in moving or skidding a rig; however, it can be ap preciated that the present invention can be used to move any heavy equipment or other structures as desired.

Broadly the present invention relates to a device which supports a universal joint and a lifting means thereon whereby the lifting means may be operated independently of movement of the structure on which it is supported.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for lifting and moving including, a support structure, means mounted thereon for moving said support structure along the earths surface, a universal joint mounted on said support structure, lifting means extending slidably through and carried by said universal joint whereby a lifting effort may be applied independently of motion of said universal joint, said lifting means including a support member below said universal joint for supporting a member to be lifted, a pair of spaced members secured to said support member and extending slidably upwardly through said universal joint, an upper crossbar above said universal joint and connecting said spaced members together, means mounted on said universal joint for engaging said crossbar to raise and lower said members and said support connected therewith below said universal joint, and said universal joint accommodating relative movement between said support structure and said lifting means as said support structure moves over the earths surface.

2. The combination recited in claim 1 including lock means on said universal joint to hold said lifting means in a predetermined alignment relative to said support structure.

3. The combination recited in claim 2 wherein said support below said universal joint and said ball member cooperate to grip the member lifted and hold it in the apparatus.

4. Apparatus for lifting and moving including, a support structure, means mounted thereon for moving said support structure along the earths surface, a universal joint mounted on said support structure, lifting means extending slidably through and carried by said universal joint whereby a lifting effort may be applied independently of motion of said universal joint, said universal joint including a bowl mounted on said support structure, a ball member mounted in said bowl, said lifting means including a support member below said universal joint for supporting a member to be lifted, a pair of spaced members secured to said support member and extending slidably upwardly through said ball member of said universal joint, an upper crossbar above said universal joint and connecting said spaced members together, means mounted on said universal joint for engaging said crossbar to raise and lower said spaced members and said support connected therewith below said universal joint, and said universal joint accommodating relative movement between said support structure and said lifting means as said support structure moves over the earths surface.

5. The combination recited in claim 4 including lock means on said bowl and said ball member to lock said universal joint against movement in a horizontal plane to thereby align said lifting means and support structure in a predetermined manner.

6. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein said ball member of said universal joint and said support therebelow cooperate to grip the member lifted and hold it in the apparatus.

7. Apparatus for lifting and moving including, a support structure, means mounted thereon for moving said support structure along the earths surface, a universal joint mounted on said support structure, lifting means extending slidably through and carried by said universal joint whereby a lifting effort may be applied independently of motion of said universal joint, said universal joint including a bowl mounted on said support structure, a ball member mounted in said bowl, said lifting means including spaced vertical members extending slidably through said ball member, a support member secured therebetween below said ball member for supporting a member to be lifted between said vertical members, a crossbar secured between said vertical members above said ball member, hydraulic cylinder means mounted on said ball member and piston means therein having rods for engagement with said crossbar whereby said vertical members may be raised and lowered, means on each of said vertical members for holding them in elevated position, and said ball member movable in said bowl to accommodate relative movement between said support structure and said lifting means as said support structure moves over the earths surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 50,244 Haserick Oct. 3, 1865 310,644 Boyle Jan. 13, 1885 572,598 Dean Dec. 8, 1896 2,101,837 Bl'anchett Dec. 14, 1937 2,135,765 Paine Nov. 8, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS 3 1.338 Norway Nov. 1, 1920 

